On 31 October the UNU-IAS and the University Network for Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research (UNCECAR) will co-organize the Transdisciplinary Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (Te-DRR) Conference 2014.
Global disaster risk reduction has progressed much through the active support of international organizations and committed governments. During the past two decades, the focus shifted from response to proactive preventive approach and hazard mitigation focus was replaced by the more appropriate risk assessment approach. However, with increasing concentration of population and assets in urban and vulnerable areas coupled with globalizing processes that have made the world population very interdependent, losses from natural disasters are increasing. In addition, climate change is modifying the magnitude and frequency of weather related extremes making current safety measures and standards obsolete.
The move from mono-disciplinary approaches to multi-disciplinary and then to inter-disciplinary practices has enabled us to engage in disaster management collectively. However, to address mounting challenges there is an urgent need to turn to more efficient transdisciplinary approaches that bring all stakeholders together – including academia, local governments, NGOs and communities – to enable rapid transfer of knowledge, experiences and immediate responses.
Based on past experiences, the University Network for Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research (UNCECAR) – a network of leading universities in the Asia Pacific region – proposes to promote project-based Transdisciplinary Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (TeDRR) programmes by a broad coalition of universities, local governments, and NGOs as a commitment to the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (DRR). These programmes will be rooted in sustainability science that will also support the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
TeDRR 2014 will open a platform for researchers, practitioners and various stakeholders to present their experiences and inform practical mechanisms and new approaches, and initiate programmes and further collaboration in implementing transdisciplinary education programmes for DRR.
The first part of the conference will consist of presentations that will aim to provide participants with insights on the various experiences of leading academics, experts and practitioners in disaster risk reduction. The second portion of the conference will be two panel discussions offering a space for in-depth discussions including both international and local perspectives for initiating potential models of Te-DRR and for forging partnerships among various stakeholders.
The conference will be in English. Admission to the symposium is free, but advance registration is required (until 29th October 2014).
Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page.
9:30–9:40 Opening Remarks
Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto (Director, UNU-IAS)
9:40–10:00 Workshop Overview and Introduction of UNCECAR
Dr. Srikantha Herath (Academic Director/ Senior Academic Programme Officer, UNU-IAS)
10:00–10:20 University Partnership in International Development
Prof. Toshio Koike (Professor, The University of Tokyo)
10:20–10:40 Transdisciplinary Education Programs: Experiences from Landslide Mitigation
Prof. Hiroshi Fukuoka (Professor, Niigata University)
10:40–11:00 JAXA’s Activities for Disaster Risk Reduction
Mr. Kenichi Toda (Head, Disaster Management Support System Office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA)
11:00–11:10 BREAK
11:10–11:30 Incorporating Science and Technology for Disaster Reduction, – the Japanese Experience –
Dr. Satoru Nishikawa (Vice President, Japan Water Agency)
11:30–11:50 The Role of Universities in Advancing Disaster Risk Reduction
Prof. Yuichi Ono (Assistant Director and Professor, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University)
11:50–12:10 Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and the Role of University Networks
Prof. Rajib Shaw (Professor, Kyoto University)
12:10–12:30 Experiences of Knowledge Integration and Stakeholder Collaboration in Sustainability Science: Challenges and Opportunities for Transdisciplinary Education for Disaster Risk Reduction
Prof. Masaru Yarime (Project Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo and Honorary Reader, University College London)
12:30–13:00 Q&A, Open Discussion
13:00–14:00 LUNCH
PLENARY SESSION
14:00–15:00 Panel Discussion on International Perspectives
Moderator: Prof. Hans van Ginkel (Former UNU Rector, Professor Emeritus, Utrecht University)
15:00–16:30 Panel Discussion on Local Partnerships
Moderator: Prof. Monte Cassim (Professor Emeritus, former President APU, Ritsumeikan Trust)
Interdisciplinary approaches of research and education in Proactive response to disaster and climate change for sustainability
Prof. Mai Trong Nhuan (Former President, National University of Vietnam)
Interdisciplinary Cooperation Between University, Local Goverment and Community to Engage Pro-active Approach in Disaster Risk Reduction
Prof. Ir Tumiran (Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada)
University – Local Government Partnerships for Ecosystems Management
Prof. Mazlin Mokhtar (Deputy Vice Chancellor, National University of Malaysia) & Mr. Akashah Makjizat (Deputy Director, Putrajaya Corporation)
Linking Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Loss and Damage
Dr. Linda Anne Stevenson (Head, Communication & Scientific Affairs Division, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, APN)
Open Discussion “Towards a Transdisciplinary Framework for DRR”
16:30 Concluding Remarks
Elizabeth Rose Hall, 5th Floor
United Nations University
Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability
5-53-70 Jingumae
Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-8925
For further inquiries, please contact Ms. Johanna Diwa-Acallar,Programme Coordinator at diwa@unu.edu.